Illustration of a child protected from bacteria during leukemia treatment.

Battling Bacteria: Understanding Infections in Childhood Leukemia Treatment

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into bacterial infections during acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy and strategies for improving patient outcomes."

Chemotherapy is a critical treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. However, this intensive treatment phase, typically lasting about six months, weakens the immune system, making young patients highly susceptible to infections. This increased vulnerability stems from neutropenia (low white blood cell count) and impaired B and T cell function, both consequences of leukemia and its treatment.

Bacterial infections are a significant concern during ALL therapy, potentially leading to severe complications and impacting overall survival rates. Understanding the incidence, types, and effects of these infections is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

This article explores the challenges of bacterial infections in children undergoing intensive chemotherapy for ALL, based on findings from a retrospective study. It delves into the prevalence of these infections, the causative bacterial organisms, their impact on mortality, and the implications for clinical practice.

The Challenge of Bacterial Infections in ALL Treatment

Illustration of a child protected from bacteria during leukemia treatment.

A retrospective study was conducted on 834 children (247 girls and 587 boys) diagnosed with ALL and treated at the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore between 2006 and 2016. The analysis revealed important insights into the occurrence and nature of bacterial infections during their treatment. The children were risk-stratified into three groups: standard risk (15%), intermediate risk (80.9%), and high risk (4.1%).

The study found that bacterial infections occurred in 117 (14%) of the patients. Among these infections:

Gram-negative bacteria were responsible for 66.6% of the infections.
Gram-positive bacteria caused 47% of the infections.
A dual blood culture positivity was observed in 11% of the patients.

Among children with gram-negative infections, the most common organisms identified were Klebsiella (32%), Pseudomonas (30.7%), NFGNB (19.2%), and E. coli (17.9%). Sensitivity patterns indicated that 29.4% of organisms were pansensitive, while extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) growth was seen in 52.5%, and carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) in 15.3%. This highlights the increasing challenge of antibiotic resistance in treating these infections.

Improving Outcomes: Addressing Bacterial Infections in ALL Therapy

The study highlighted a significant finding: the mortality rate due to bacterial infection was 14.5%. Moreover, the overall survival (OS) at 6 months was significantly lower in patients who experienced bacterial infections compared to those who did not.

These findings underscore the critical need for proactive strategies to prevent and manage bacterial infections in children undergoing ALL therapy. This includes:

<ul><li>Implementing stringent infection control measures in healthcare settings.</li><li>Utilizing prophylactic antibiotics and antifungal medications judiciously.</li><li>Ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment of infections based on sensitivity patterns.</li></ul>Further research is warranted to explore novel approaches for preventing and treating bacterial infections in this vulnerable population, ultimately improving survival rates and quality of life for children undergoing ALL treatment.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.phoj.2018.11.053, Alternate LINK

Title: Bacterial Infections In Children During Intensive Phase Of Treatment For Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Therapy And Its Impact On Mortality

Subject: Oncology

Journal: Pediatric Hematology Oncology Journal

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Wanve Balasaheb, Anu Korula, Anup J. Devasia, Kavitha Nl, Uday P. Kulkarni, Aby Abraham, Alok Srivastava, Vikram Mathews, Biju George

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why are bacterial infections a significant problem for children undergoing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) treatment?

During Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) therapy, children often experience weakened immune systems. This vulnerability arises from neutropenia (low white blood cell count) and impaired B and T cell function, both results of the leukemia itself and the chemotherapy treatment. The weakened immune system makes children highly susceptible to bacterial infections.

What are the potential consequences of bacterial infections in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)?

Bacterial infections are a major concern for children undergoing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) therapy because they can lead to severe complications. These infections can also significantly impact overall survival rates. A study found that 14.5% of patients died due to bacterial infections, and the overall survival at 6 months was lower in patients who had infections.

What types of bacteria commonly cause infections in children undergoing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) therapy?

In children undergoing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) treatment, the most common bacterial infections involved Gram-negative bacteria. Specifically, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, NFGNB, and E. coli were frequently identified. The study revealed that 66.6% of infections were attributed to Gram-negative bacteria, while Gram-positive bacteria caused 47% of the infections.

What does the study reveal about antibiotic resistance in the context of these infections?

The study on children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) indicated the increasing challenge of antibiotic resistance. Sensitivity patterns showed that while 29.4% of the organisms were pansensitive, extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) growth was observed in 52.5%, and carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) were present in 15.3% of the cases. This resistance complicates treatment and can affect patient outcomes.

What were the key findings and the scope of the study regarding bacterial infections in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)?

The retrospective study included 834 children diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) treated at Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore between 2006 and 2016. The children were risk-stratified into standard risk (15%), intermediate risk (80.9%), and high risk (4.1%). The study examined the prevalence of bacterial infections, the specific bacteria involved (such as Klebsiella and Pseudomonas), the impact on mortality, and the implications for clinical practice.